Posted: 5/5/2012 4:38:51 PM EDT
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Picked this up earlier in a trade, and have no idea what it is exactly. I looked the serial number up on proofhouse, and the best I can figure out, it's an "Army Special & Officer's Model" made in 1927?
I don't know if that's correct tho, so any help is appreciated. The serial number is 521,xxx the markings on it say Colt 38 July 4 1905 is the last copyright date on it. Any ideas on the year it was made, model, and value of this revolver? Thanks. 
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| colt Army special is a later variation of the original colt swing out cylinder revolver that was first produced in 1889. over time they made gradual changes to the lockwork resulting in models 1892 ,1894 etc. The first ones were made in the then standard us military service round the 38 long colt. After the introduction of the 38 special they started chambering them for 38 special. pretty common colt with limited value (200-300) in the condition pictured |
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The original swing out cylinder, double action revolver was invented by Colt in 1889.
The first models were known as the New Army & Navy models. These were made as military issue and commercial models. These were put through a rapid series of improvements with the last model being the Model 1903. It was these early .38 Long Colt military revolvers that failed in the Philippines and led to the development of the Model 1911 .45 Automatic. Taking what they'd learned, Colt introduced a totally new design in 1908 called the Army Special. This was specifically designed to be a stronger revolver capable of shooting the .38 Special cartridge. The Army Special was a highly successful revolver, and every Colt medium framed revolver made up until the Colt Python was based on the Army Special. So few changes were made over the years that many parts of a 1908 Army Special would still interchange with a 2003 Colt Python. The US Army never bought the Army Special but the police did, in large numbers. So, in 1927 Colt simply renamed the Army Special as the Official Police, and made it largely unchanged until 1969. The only real difference between the 1908 to 1927 Army Special and the 1927 to 1969 Official Police is the name stamped on the barrel. The Army Special was available in blue or bright nickel, with a 4", 4 1/2", 5", and 6" barrel. Calibers were the .38 Special, 32-20, and the .41 Long Colt. From 1908 to 1924 the grips were hard black rubber with molded in checkering and Colt logos. From 1924 to 1927 the grips were checkered walnut with silver Colt medallions. Number 521,XXX was made in 1926. The year started with number 521,000. 1927 started at 540,000. |
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